AmeriCorps State and National Native Nations Grants

The FY 2026 AmeriCorps State and National Native Nations Grants program is a federally administered funding opportunity designed to support Native Nations in implementing impactful community service initiatives through AmeriCorps members. AmeriCorps, the administering agency, strengthens communities and promotes civic engagement through structured national service programs. This particular grant opportunity is open exclusively to Indian Tribes and eligible tribal organizations, with the goal of enabling them to utilize AmeriCorps members to address critical challenges in Native communities. The purpose of the grant is to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions that support community development and service delivery. The grant prioritizes programs that focus on civic engagement, youth mental health, STEM education (especially in Bureau of Indian Education schools and Tribal Colleges and Universities), Indigenous teacher preparation, and the preservation of Native languages and cultural practices. Other focal areas include sustainable agriculture and food systems, environmental stewardship grounded in Traditional Ecological Knowledge, economic opportunity initiatives such as broadband access and financial literacy, health-related services (including those targeting trauma and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People), and veteran and military family support. AmeriCorps seeks to enhance the member experience as well by supporting skill attainment, personal growth, and lifelong civic participation. This includes fostering pathways to employment through training, certification, and workforce development programs such as apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. Programs are expected to clearly integrate these priority areas into their core activities and intended outcomes in order to receive priority consideration, although this does not guarantee funding. Funding is made available through cost reimbursement and fixed amount grant structures. The maximum cost per Member Service Year (MSY) for cost reimbursement grants is $25,000. The grants support a three-year period of performance, with initial awards for one year and options for continuation pending appropriations and performance. Importantly, match requirements are waived for Native Nations under this NOFO. For organizations qualifying as “severely economically distressed communities,” AmeriCorps offers Match Replacement Funds, allowing applicants to request funding that would otherwise have been required as cost share. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Successful applicants are expected to be notified in early July 2026, with awards issued by the end of that month. Projects must begin on or after August 1, 2026. Applicants are required to submit detailed application components, including narrative sections, logic models, budgets, and performance measures via AmeriCorps’ online grant system. Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) is mandatory, and a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) must be included in the application. Eligibility is restricted to Indian Tribes and qualifying tribal organizations. These may include tribal entities that are chartered, controlled, or authorized by federally recognized tribes. Appropriate documentation, such as tribal resolutions or authorization letters, is required to demonstrate eligibility. Programs proposing activities that require specific member qualifications or professional placements (such as teaching or health services) must outline how these requirements will be fulfilled. Evaluation of applications will consider factors such as program design (50%), organizational capability (25%), and budget adequacy (25%). Technical assistance is available, and AmeriCorps strongly encourages all applicants, especially new or previously unfunded organizations, to participate in webinars and support calls. Final award decisions will consider alignment with funding priorities, geographic and demographic diversity, and programmatic innovation. All applicants will receive reviewer feedback, and those denied may request reconsideration if a clear and substantial error occurred during the review process.